Asked by: Lord Beamish (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to the National Shipbuilding Strategy in the procurement of vessels for Border Force.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
We are continuing to engage suppliers on the basis of a UK-led build, using the Defence and Security provisions within the Procurement Act 2023 where appropriate. This approach is consistent with the government's commitment to back British businesses and a sustainable and successful shipbuilding and maritime technology sector and to ensure value for money and deliverability. My officials are working closely with the National Shipbuilding Office.
Asked by: Lord Beamish (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what progress they have made on the procurement of vessels for Border Force.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
We are continuing to engage suppliers on the basis of a UK-led build, using the Defence and Security provisions within the Procurement Act 2023 where appropriate. This approach is consistent with the government's commitment to back British businesses and a sustainable and successful shipbuilding and maritime technology sector and to ensure value for money and deliverability. My officials are working closely with the National Shipbuilding Office.
Asked by: Lord Beamish (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of awarding the contract for vessels for Border Force to UK shipyards on the number of jobs and apprenticeships.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
A dynamic UK shipbuilding sector has potential to play a key role in creating and sustaining jobs and in ensuring shared prosperity around the country. The Maritime Capabilities Replacement Programme procurement will require all bidders to deliver social value, with fair work and resilient supply chains identified as key priorities.
Asked by: Lord Beamish (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what contracts the Home Office has awarded to Fujitsu since July 2024.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Home Office has awarded two contracts with Fujitsu during the period in question, in both cases to renew existing services provided by the company where it was considered essential for law enforcement purposes to do so. Details of both contracts are published on Contract Finder:
Law Enforcement (LECN) Software Defined Wide Area Network (SD-WAN) continuity
Asked by: Lord Beamish (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether children will be detained at Derwentside immigration removal centre.
Answered by Tom Pursglove
Derwentside immigration removal centre, currently a female only centre, will be converted into a facility for men in due course. There is no intention for children to be detained at Derwentside.
Asked by: Lord Beamish (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 28 March 2023 to Question 172353 on UK Border Force: Patrol Craft, what his Department's timescales are for the formal launch of market engagement for the procurement of replacement Border Force vessels.
Answered by Tom Pursglove
Progress continues to be made on plans to procure a replacement Cutter and Coastal Patrol Vessel maritime capability for Border Force. The procurement schedule has not yet been finalised.
Asked by: Lord Beamish (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the budget for Small Boats Operational Command is for 2023-24.
Answered by Michael Tomlinson
The latest published figures for Border Force can be found in the Home Office Annual Report for 2022-2023 Home Office annual report and accounts - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) 2023-2024 figures will be published in future reports.
Asked by: Lord Beamish (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what proportion of recorded crime against retailer workers was associated with age-related sales in the last 12 months.
Answered by Chris Philp - Shadow Home Secretary
The Home Office collects and publishes data on crime affecting retail premises as part of the Commercial Victimisation survey. The most recent publication covers the year 2022 and estimated that in 2022, 4% of premises which experienced violent incidents stated that asking for ID for age restricted products was one of the most common reasons for the violent crime.
The Government is clear that violent and abusive behaviour towards any public-facing worker is never acceptable. We take this issue very seriously and recognise the implications these incidents can have on businesses as well as the victims.
Asked by: Lord Beamish (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when she plans to respond to correspondence of 11 August 2023 from the Rt Hon. Member for North Durham, case reference KJ30777.
Answered by Robert Jenrick
The Home Office replied to your office on 11 September 2023.
Asked by: Lord Beamish (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 7 June to Question 187056 on English Channel: Surveillance, what her Department's budget was for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance operations over the English Channel in each of the last five financial years.
Answered by Robert Jenrick
This complex operating and budgetary landscape means that the question could only be definitively answered at a disproportionate cost.